Axle stretcher, stover, and bender.



F. A. BLACK.

AXLE STRETCHER, STOVER, AND BENDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. 1916.

1,236,538., Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

F. A. BLACK.

AXLE STRETCHER, STOVER, AND BENDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26.1916.

3 SHEETS---SHEET 2 iddfiewes.

F. A. BLACK.

AXLE STRETCHER, STOVER, AND BENDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. I916.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ronnnsr A. BLAcK, or nAaico-n, INDIANA.

AXLE STRETCHER, STOVER, AND BENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 114, 11917.

Application filed August 26, 1916. Serial No. 116,947.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FORREST A. BLACK, a citizen of the United States,residing in Marion, county of Grant, State of Indiana, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Axle Stretchers, Stovers, andBenders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto the art of shaping metal articles andparticularly to a machine so constructed as to adapt it for use instretching, shortening, shaping and fin1shing drop-forged axles.

In the manufacture of motor trucks, automobiles, etc., it is the usualpractice to employ drop forged front axles, and sometimes drop forgedrear axles. Experience has shown that forgings made from the same die orsame set of dies vary somewhat in length, width, etc. To compensate forthese Variations it has been the practice to correct the fault ofdimensions by manual operation, that is, by a gang of men working everyone of the several forgings separately, to correct whatever variationsmay occur, such as straightening, shortening, lengthening, truing tosize, etc. It is obvious that such means of correction are veryexpensive, entailing a finishing operation after the parts have beenmade in the forging machine.

I intend to rectify these objections by means hereinafter explained. Oneof the objects of my invention is to provide a machine that will, withone stroke of the plunger, lengthen a forged axle if it be too short,shorten it if it be too long, straighten it, shape the pads for thesprings, and bend the central portion of the axle into any desiredshape.

Another object is to provide a machine which will stretch or stove anyother forgings requiring such attention.

To enable those skilled in the art to more fully understand myinvention, attention is directed to the drawings showing the preferredembodiment of my invention, wherein- .Figure 1 is a side elevation of abulldozer provided with dies necessary to carry out my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33' of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2 Fig. 5 is a section on line55 of Fig. 4. The numeral 10 represents the bulldozer with areciprocating head 11- operated by means of a balanced crank 12connected with the head 11 by the pitman 13. The crank 12 is mounted onthe shaft 14, the rotation of which is brought about by any suitablemeans, not shown.

In the type of bulldozer shown, the head 11 is adapted for reciprocalmotion on the slideway 15 on the top portion of the bed 10. The head 11is provided with the usual vertical face 16, to which are attachedportions of my device. These will be fully explained hereinafter.

One of the novel features of my invention is the shape and kind andarrangement of the dies for accomplishing the stretching or stoving ofthe drop forging to be treated.

Mounted on the upper portion of the bed 10 is a die block 17. This blockextends transversely of the bed and is fastened thereto by any suitablemeans, the fastening means which are shown in my embodiment consistingof bent pins 18 hooked under the edges of the upper portions of the sideof the bed 10. As a fixed back stop, I provide the lugs 18 integral withthe bed, and serving to support adjusting bolts 18 which directlycontrol the die block. Extending lengthwise of this block is a groove 19which is in the form of an inverted 1'. Connected to the block 17 is theupper die block 20, which has also a T-shaped groove extendingthroughout its length. The upper die block 20 is hinged or connected tothe lower die block 17 by pivoted arms 21, the arm 21 being securelyfastened to upper die block 20 and suitably mounted on pin 22 in dieblock 17.

Referring to Fig. 5, the construction of the dies will be more apparent.Mounted in the groove 19 of the bottom die block 17 are sliding blocks23 and 24, the block 24 being relatively longer than the block 23. Inthe end of block 23 I provide a screw threaded aperture 23 To cooperatetherewith, a screw 25 is mounted in bracket 26, secured to the end ofblock 17. By this means I am able to adjust or fix the position of thedie block 23, the necessity for which will be explained later. The block24 is freely slidable in the groove 19.

The dies are made in separate pieces; in

other words, I use two blocks placed apart for the upper die and twoblocks placed apart for the lower dies, the corresponding blocks of theupper and lower dies mating.

Numerals 27 and 28 indicate the lower dies of the preferred form of myinvention.

Die 27 I bolt to block 23, as is best seem-ill? Fig. 5. This die is madeto extend beyond the inner edge of block 23 and overlies the inner endof block 24 as best shown in Fig. 5. This is to provide ,a sufficientbearing surface therefor. The die block 28 is fas tened to the slidingblock 24 and is movable therewith. The upper die is fastened to thesliding block 31, which is mounted in the groove 20 in the top die block20. The die blocks are adapted to mate and the die blocks 28 and 30 mustbe movable in unison. Theto'ngue 28 connects the dies 28 and 30 for thatpurpose. The tongue 28 is attached in any suitable manner to the lowerdie block 28 and engages the sl1d1ngd1e block 30, in a slot 30 so thatwhen the upper die is closed against the lower die the tongue 28 willenter the slot and permit the closing of the upper die block on thelower and allow for movement of the die blocks 28 and 30. The tongue 28is curved the radius of which curve is the same radius about wh1ch theup er die moves, consequently there can be no inding between the tongue28 and the sliding die block 30. The sliding block 24 is provided with alongitudinally extending aperture 32 carrying two rollers 33 and 34vertically mounted therein for horizontal rotation. These rollers arespaced apart and positioned near the end of the slot 32. The reason forthis arrangement will be explained later.

Mounted on the head 11 of the bulldozer is a horizontally extendingtongue 35,which tongue extends through the aperture 32 between therollers 33 and 34 in the die block 24. The tongue 35 is wider at itsinner end than at its outer end. This will be seen by referring toFig-3.

For closing the top die onto the lower die, I provide an arm integralwith or at tached to the die block 20, which arm is curved as shown inFig. 4 and has a roller 45 at its end. This arm is adapted to extendbelow the lower portion of die block 17. The-outer end of tongue 35 isprovided with a block 37, in which there is mounted for rotation aroller 38, which roller is adapted to bear against the inner portion ofthe curved arm 36. The rearward or convex side of the arm 36 is providedwith a series of counterweights 39 held thereon by means of slide 39.Counterweights may be added to or taken from the arm 36, the addition orsubtraction of the counterweights depending upon the weight of the diesfastened to the upper die blocks.

The die blocks 27, 28 and the upper die blocks 29 and 30, when mountedfor use, are spaced apart as best seen in Fig. 5 and Fig. 2.

Also mounted on the base of the head 11 of the bulldozer is a tongue 40mounted above the tongue 35 and much shorter in 1,ase,aae

length. On each side of the tongue 40 are mounted tongues 41 and 42. Thepurpose of the tongue 40 is to bend into the desired shape the centralportion of the axle being treated in this machine. Referring to Fig. 2,it will be seen that I provide at the rear side of the lower die a die43 having a base shaped to the contourthat it is desired to bend thecentral portion of the axle.

The tongue 40 mounted on the head 11 is formed to the same shape thatdie block 43 is.

The rear portion of the block 17 is provided with an arcuate slot shownin Fig. 4 and designated by numeral 44 wherein the arm 36 may operate.This provision is made to insure at all times proper fitting or matingmovement of the upper die block onto the forging in the lower dies whichis to be treated therein.

The operation of the machine is as follows: An axle designated bynumeral 46 in Fig. 2 is inserted in the lower die blocks 27 and 28. Whenlying in this position the axle is gripped at the ends, leaving themiddle portion free or open. By means of the screw 25 the block 24 isadjusted to the proper position for the axle, which is in the dies. Toaccommodate the lengthwise position of the die block 28 to the length ofthe axle, the block 24 may be moved inwardly or outwardly until the endof the axle fits in the die block 28. Movement of this block will changethe position of the rollers 33 and 34 with respect to the tongue 35attached to the head. When the bulldozer is actuated, the tongue 35 ismoved forwardly, bringing the wider portion of the tongue against one ofthe rollers 33 or 34 mounted in the sliding block 24, and thus moves thesliding block 24 either way. The closing of the upper die block on thelower is accomplished by cooperation between the end of the tongue 35and the curved arm 36 fastened to the upper die block, this being bestseen in Fig. 4. As head 11 carrying the tongue 35 moves forwardly theend of thetongue pushes against the curved arm 36 and forces the upperdie block downwardly against the lower die block and against any forgingthat is held by the d1es. As the upper die block is closed against thelower die'block it is held there by reason of the engagement of theroller 45 carried by the end of the arm 36 with the upper surface of thetongue 35. This results in the upper die block being held against thelower die block and against any forging that is thereby held while thehead 11 completes its forward stroke and during a portion of itsrearward stroke. As the end of the arm 35 leaves the roller 45 thecounter-weights 38 will open the upper die block and return it to itsnormal vertical position. If the forging being treated is aaaosaa toolong, the block 24 will he in such a position that the roller 33 will beengaged by the side of the tongue 35, thereby drawing inwardly the'block 24 or shortening the forging 46. By virtue of the shape of theside of the tongue the forging will be retained in the correct positionduring the time that the cross head completes its stroke. As the crosshead continues to travel, the tongue 40 engages the middle portion ofthe axle, bending it into the form of the die 43 and the tongue 40..Also, the tongues 41 and 42 engage the portions 48 and 49, which arethe spring pads on which the springs rest when the axle is assembledinto the mo.- tor vehicle.

The moment the cross head 11 starts forward the outer end of the tongue35 closes the top die onto the axle forging and holds it in position.The movement of the upper die block .30 corresponds to the movement ofthe lower block 28 when the tongue 35 engages either of the rollers 33or 34. As the cross head is withdrawn, the upper die block is opened byreason of.the action of the counterweights on the withdrawal of the endof the tongue 35 from engagement with the inner portion of the arm 36,so that by the time the cross head has reached its position of rest thedies will be open and all their parts out of engagement one with theother. If the axle forging is too short, then, when placed in positionin the dies 27 and 28, the sliding block will be moved sidewise so thatthe roller 34 will be en gaged by the tongue 35, thereby lengthening tothe exact length the axle forging 46.

It will be observed that I have furnished means for treating forgedaxles in such a manner that the finished product will be uniform inlength, contour and shape and will have to undergo no great amount ofmachining. By reason of the fact that the middle portion of the axle isnot held in dies, it is possible to lengthen a forging that is too shortor shorten a forgin that is too long, by reason of the slidabllity ofthe lower d e blocks and the simultaneous slidability of thecorresponding upper die blocks. Also, by reason of the sliding dieblocks it is possible to compress the forging so that it will fillcompletely the die blocks, thereby forming an axle true to shape inevery respect. Also, because of the freedom of movement of the middleportion of the axle, it is possible to shape the middle portion asdesired.

By an apparatus of-this sort it is possible to'treat in a similar mannerforgings of any kind wherein such treatment 1s desired.

The arrangement of the respective parts will be substantially the same,and the operation of the bulldozer exactly the same. The limit ofsidewise movement of the block 24 is dependent upon the width of thenarrow and wide portions of the tongue 35, and the point of beginningand ending of the sliding movement is depending upon the sharpness ofthe wedge-like sides connectingthe narrow and the wide portions. Meansfor moving the upper die blocks 29 and 30 simultaneously with theirmating lower blocks 27 and 28 respectively may be hinges or telescopicjoints so connected that the movement of the blocks 23 and 24, carryingthe dies 27 and 28, may be transferred to the block 31 carrying the dies29 and 30, whereby any movement of the block 23 or 24 will be broughtabout in the corresponding block 31. Such means will in no way hamperthe closing and opening movements ,of the upper die member.

I do not limit the scope of my invention to the exact form shown anddescribed, but consider as coming within the spirit of my invention suchmachines as Will lengthen or shorten metal formations by means ofexpanding or contracting die members, the expansion or contraction ofthe dies being accomplished or brought about during the operation ofstretching, straightening or pairs of dies spaced apart and adapted tograsp and hold the ends of an article, one pair of said dies beingfreely slidable toward and from said other pair, and a reciprocatingplunger cooperating withsaid slidable dies to position the same in apredetermined position and consequently to fix the length of the articlebeing treated, substantially as described.

2. In a bulldozer, the combination of two pairs of dies spaced apart andadapted to grasp and hold the ends of an article, one pair of said diesbeing freely slidable toward and from said other pair, a reciprocatingplunger cooperating with said slidable dies to position the same in apredetermined position and consequently to fix the length of the articlebeing substantially treated, the ends of the article being unchanged inshape during such operation, the distortion occurring in theintermediate portion of the article, and means operative subsequent tosaid length-fixing operation to reshape said intermediate portion,substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a set of dieblocks, a set of sliding blocks mounted in said die blocks, dies securedto said sliding blocks, the .die blocks being adapted to close and thedies to mate, a cross head, a tongue on said cross head adapted toengage said die blocks, said sliding blocks being operable by saidtongue into closed and then into open positions, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination'with a frame, ofa reciprocating cross head mounted thereon and aset of die blocksmounted transversely of said frame, the blocks being provided withapertures, sliding members mounted in the apertures, dies secured to thesliding members, the dies comprising several parts for the upper die andthe same number of parts for the lower die, the several parts of eachdie being in spaced relation when in active position, a plunger mountedon said cross head for cooperation with the sliding blocks, whereby thesame are moved into position for action by the dies, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofhinged die blocks mounted on said frame transversely thereof, the blocksbeing provided with longitudinally extending apertures, sliding membersmounted in said apertures, upper and lower dies, each die comprising atleast two parts, one part fastened to one of said sliding members,cooperative connecting means between corresponding sliding members inupper and lower blocks, whereby same are slid simultaneously, a plungerengaging the sliding members and adapted to close and open the dieblocks, also to move the sliding blocks into operative position, and toextend between the parts comprising the upper and lower parts when theplunger is at the end of' its stroke, substantially as described.

6. In a stretching and stoving machine, the combination with a frame ofa traveling cross head, die blocks mounted on the frame transverselythereof, the blocks being hingedly connected, sliding members engagingsaid blocks, dies for the upper and lower blocks, each die comprising aplurality of parts, the parts being mounted on the several slidingmembers, permitting movement of one part with respect to the other part,the cross head provided with a two-part plunger, one part engaging thesliding members and the top die block, whereby the top die block ismoved into mating position with the lower block, and the sliding membersin both blocks moved into operating position, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a stretching and stoving machine, a combination with a frame of areciprocating cross head anda set of die blocks mounted on said frametransversely thereof, the die blocks being hinged for operation in ajawlike manner; the upper die block being provided with an arm extendingaround and underneath the lower die block, each die block being providedwith a series of sliding members, dies formed of several parts mountedon the sliding members, means reeaaea connecting the correspondingsliding members of the upper and lower die blocks, whereby simultaneousmovement is bad, a plunger mounted on the cross head engaging thesliding members of the lower die blocks, said plunger beingsubstantially wedge-like in plan view, rollers mounted on one of thesliding members of the lower die blocks for engagement with saidplunger, said plunger also engaging the arm of the upper die blocks, thedies being mounted on the sliding members so as to provide a spacebetween the several parts of each die, whereby to permit stretching orcompressing of material held by. the die parts, means for operating saidplunger operating the sliding members of the lower die blocks and alsothe top die blocks, substantially as described.

8. A pair of die blocks for forging machine comprising upper and lowerblocks, each block provided with a longitudinally extending aperture,separable sliding members inserted, in each of said apertures, meansconnecting the die block to one of said sliding members whereby itsposition is fixed,

dies composed of several parts, the several parts fastened to thesliding members, hinge connections between the corresponding slidingmembers of the to and bottom die blocks, whereby simul aneous movementthereof is efiected, means for closing the die blocks and means foroperating the slidable members, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of dieblocks fastened in hinged positions, each die block being provided witha lon itudinally extending slot, a plurality of sliding members mountedin each of said slots, means whereby at least one of said slidingmembers may be retained in a fixed position in said slot, the othersliding members being freely slidable, the sliding block being providedwith a horizontally disposed slot, rollers mounted in said slot, anddies, the dies for each of the upper and lower die blocks being formedof a plurality of sections, the sections being fastened one to the fixedsliding member and another to the freely slidable sliding member, andbeing maintained in spaced relation when so fastened, a wedge-shapedtongue engaging the slot in said sliding member whereby sliding movementthereof is effected, adapted also to close the upper die block againstthe lower after the sliding blocks are moved into active position.

Signed at Marion, Indiana, this 21st day of August, 1916.

FORREST A. BLACK.

Witnesses:

JAivrns PoRTTEUs, JOHN B. NOTTINGHAM.

